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Download PDF Giasuddin Al Mamun, the detained businessman friend of Tarique Rahman, yesterday told the court that he could not submit his wealth statement in time since he was in the joint forces’ custody from January 31 to March 26.
During hearing of the case against him for not declaring his assets to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), he pleaded not guilty.
The anti-graft body issued the notice for him to turn in the statement in person on February 18 within 72 hours of receipt.
He said that while in captivity the joint forces had threatened to kill him and his staff in crossfire.
Mamun was taken to the fifth graft tribunal at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel at around 11:00am yesterday. In the dock, he took some time from the judge and wrote a statement.
He read out, “At 12:30am on January 31, I was arrested at one of my acquaintances’ house along with the two staff accompanying me and the house owner. They got us into a car, blindfolded. Shortly afterwards, I could tell from their telephone conversation that we were crossing the Hotel Sheraton. After 10 to 12 minutes, I was taken out of the car and led to a room. There, a doctor came and checked my health.”
“On February 6, I gave the joint forces an account of my wealth. But they did not believe me and grilled me again.
On March 6, they took me and my staff to a site, threatening to kill us in crossfire. Soon, I was separated from the other two and heard a gunshot. Frightened, I told them that what I had said earlier was true and that I hid nothing.
In the morning of March 25, they grilled me about my wealth. In the videotaped interrogation, I begged that whatever I had to say I should be allowed to say in the court.
I thought I would be produced before a court on March 26. But after roaming the streets, they took me to my house. I realised that I was home only after they had removed the handcuffs and the hood from my face. Out of fear, my wife and children were huddling inside a room at that time. As I was sporting a beard, none could recognise me. My wife fainted at the sight of me. I had to convince her that I was Mamun.
The joint forces then told me that I’d better stay here and spend some time with my family. While I was talking to my family, a policeman came and said that they had found a firearm in my bedroom. At that time, at least 90 people including the Rab and police were in my house.
I was in their custody between January 31 and March 26. After March 26, I was taken into their custody again, this time on a 50-day remand. This is why I could not submit my wealth statement.”
The court asked Mamun if he could name any defence witnesses. Mentioning names of different national dailies, Mamun’s lawyer pleaded the court to allow him to invite the newspaper editors to corroborate the defendant’s claim.
The newspapers had run reports on Mamun’s arrest by the joint forces. The court accepted his plea and adjourned the hearing till Thursday noon.
Meanwhile, witnesses in the graft case against former state minister Mir Nasiruddin continued making depositions yesterday while those in the case of Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir began theirs.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:20 am
Bangladesh joint force have practice “cross fire” very frequently to catch criminals or any alleged person, this is nothing new for our forces of the country. This caretaker government must look in to the issues of such claims by Al Mamun. My argument to this caretaker government to beware of such activity took place by RAB/Joint forces and abuse of their power. Human Rights Groups must also intervene on going arrest made by Bangladesh joint forces to wipe corruption.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:17 am
What goes around, Comes around!We should not blame
On our forces of the country.Political Leaders the
Law maker are the Law breaker,We should held Leaders
Responsible!I hope and Pray Present care taker Government does the right thing, So in future this
Does not repeat.
May 31st, 2007 at 4:18 am
Oh yes I forgot our forces are the innocent, they only makes some dosh out of public for a joke! Our forces duty are not to protect civilians but to empty their pockets for every cases they entry, its the politicians and leaders to blame. Oh yeah your right m. sohra I suppose the caretaker gov should take all the politicians behind bar so that our forces have easy excess to bribe market.
May 31st, 2007 at 5:32 am
How Mr.Babar was appointed as Minister,and by whom?
Our forces are our forces,one should not try to use
Them for own interest.They are suppose to protect The civilians.I understand,that is what The present
Gov are right now for,Ijust hope they bring everybody/some live on TV!!
June 1st, 2007 at 6:05 am
Dear M.Sohra,
I wasn’t born in Bangladesh but do visit Bangladesh very often and have experienced, I am not denying that our force is not our forces but to curve corrupted it needs to check every sectors not just politicians or leaders. Let me describe you my experience with civil servant of Bangladesh, As I landed Dhaka Airport, had to pay bribes to officers from Chokidar of Union porishad to Chair, from Hawaldar to SP,DSP from Morril(clerk) to Judge, even to find my ancestral names and documents I had to bribed them, very recent experienced that found to be fraud which I never aware of it and that is I have paid my land Tax ( zameen khazna)through out the years but now realised that the receipts are false according to this government. But up-until now none of my town governmental officers has been arrested except politicians and leaders. Surely there are many like me facing same situation even now under this government but justice has not been done yet. Let me remind you as you highlighted Mr Babar, Mr Saifur Rahman has appointed Dr Fokhar Uddin as governnor of Bangladesh Bank, whom you and many of us are proud of today in Bangladesh.